PAW PAW, MI -- A geologist's report has given recommendations on how to stop the march of the large sand dune in the North Point Land Preserve and adjacent Syndicate Park subdivision near South Haven.

The North Point Preserve sits on 16 acres along Lake Michigan near the Van Buren State Park.Kalamazoo Gazette file

The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners last week heard a report by geology professor Deanna van Dijk and student Lucas Vanderbilt of Calvin College with recommendations on how to stabilize the county-owned dune, which has moved 400 feet since 1938.

"As we all know dunes are like a living organism," Van Buren County Administrator Douglas Cultra said. "And they move."

"On the other hand they're a work of art," and give recreational opportunities for people, he added.

So the goal is to protect the dune and preserve it for future generations by stabilizing it. Stabilizing it includes protecting the fragile dune vegetation.

Among the recommendations is public education. The county could devise regulations and post educational signs near access points. Protection is the main goal since it's difficult to reestablish vegetation. "(Planning) will not be effective unless human impacts are removed," Cultra said.

The other is controlling human traffic by limiting the number of trails to two or maybe four. There are currently 30 unmanaged trails and two main all-terrain vehicle trails.

If access is limited to two trails, according to Cultra, there would be one trail running from Syndicate Park on the north, over the dune, to the lakefront. It could be used by all-terrain vehicles.

The other would be a walking trail encompassing the entire area.

There's still much discussion that has to take place before this happens. "There's so many competing elements in this," Cultra said.

"It is such a well-done report I think it will accelerate discussion," he said.

A committee formed by the county to consider the future of the property will review the report and recommendations.